Video transcript: ESRC Vulnerability & Policing Futures Research Centre

Transcript for the video embedded on the ESRC Vulnerability & Policing Futures Research Centre page

The Vulnerability and Policing Futures Research Centre brings together leading researchers to understand the relationship between vulnerability and policing and to advance ways in which public services can better support vulnerable people.

Jointly hosted by the University of York and the University of Leeds and funded by the Economic and Social Research Council, we aim to pioneer new integrated responses to some of these issues such as domestic abuse, modern slavery and mental illness.

The nature and causes of vulnerabilities are complex and dynamic as the police are increasingly drawn into working with vulnerable people, they’re becoming ever more entwined with the work of other service providers. Too often there’s a lack of clarity on roles and shared purpose while at the same time, the public have growing concerns about the role and priorities of the police. However, the transformation of data and its use are reshaping public services and providing opportunities to understand and respond to vulnerability in new ways.

So how should the police and other service providers work to address vulnerabilities and create positive societal outcomes?

Our research is split into three complementary strands:

One, Place-based research.

By combining qualitative research and findings from large public sector datasets, we're exploring how multiple vulnerabilities are compounded within city neighbourhoods. This provides unique insights into how different agencies interact and what needs to happen to reduce harm.

Two, Problem-oriented research.

We are looking at urgent issues that pose particular challenges in the area of vulnerability and policing, such as exploitation by county lines drug networks, online child sexual victimisation, domestic abuse, modern slavery, and the policing of mental illness and homelessness.

Three, Public and policy engagement.

We're investigating public understanding of policing the issues people feel are most important and the appetite for change, helping inform public debate, policy and practice.

Our wide ranging research is built on effective collaborations with police, partner organisations and people with lived experiences. Many work with us on our advisory groups or help to co-produce our research, allowing us to understand perspectives from a range of services and the people who use them while gaining new insights through a variety of research methods.

These partnerships and collaborative initiatives allow us to understand how vulnerability develops in different areas, how organisations can work together to tackle key problems, and ultimately how we can shape a better future that reduces harm among vulnerable people in society.

To find out more about how you can engage with and support our work, go to vulnerabilitypolicing.org.uk.